Part 7 - Advisory on Online Marriage Solemnization (English)

IRSYAD (RELIGIOUS GUIDANCE)

ONLINE MARRIAGE SOLEMNIZATION

1. The Office of the Mufti has received a question from the Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM) on 8 April 2020, whether marriage solemnizations (nikah) can be  conducted online/virtually where circumstances do not permit physical solemnizations, such as during a pandemic outbreak.

Religious Opinion

2. The religious view in Islamic law is that virtual marriage solemnization is permitted as long as the conditions for a nikah can be fulfilled.[1] In principle, the use of video-conference for marriage and divorce proceedings is an administrative arrangement that does not affect the validity or otherwise of such proceedings. The Fatwa Committee issued a fatwa in 1999 which permits the use of video-conferencing methods to discuss the wife’s divorce application and to verify the husband’s pronouncement of divorce in prison, without the need for the husband to appear in court.[2]

3. In view of current circumstances where safe distancing must be observed to contain the spread of COVID-19, the Office of  the Mufti is of the opinion that solemnizers at the Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM) may solemnize marriages via video conference if the need arises, as long as they can ensure that all the conditions set out under Islamic law on the validity of the nikah are fulfilled. These include ascertaining the identities of all parties involved and that there are no objections and/or impediments to the nikah as recognised under Islamic law.

24 April 2020

THE OFFICE OF THE MUFTI
ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS COUNCIL OF SINGAPORE